Adjustable chair



J. M. DORTON ADJUSTABLE CHAIR July 17, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 8, 1946 IS lll-sia July 17 1951 J. M. DoRToN 2,560,688

ADJUSTABLE' CHAIR Filed Feb, 8, 1946 C 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 .n1/1A m1-1N M D :11n-rn N,

Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED PATENT rFLFICE ADJUSTABLE CHAIR JohlrM; Dorton, Bonner Springs, Kans. Application-February 8, 1946;' Serial No; 6465357 My invention relates tc adjustable.- seat and back: structures-z which may beemployed.` to-l adr vantage in passenger vehicles, s;uch,. for.` example as; automotive;vehicles;1'ailway cars. and air,-

planes: Thes seat and .back-structures; may also' be f incorporatedz in various kinds off: furniture. or wherever seat andbackf'structuresof this char.- acter are'-.desired: l

One objeotiotthe -invention resides Vinfthe pro.- vision of seat and back structures=in1V which the component; partsl can-s bef.l quicklyy assembled: or taken apart'1 forgrepairs;,storageaor shipment in hnockdownzform; sov that theyuwill: occupyfonly a minimumz of space:

Another object is to provide: seat and, back structuresv which may" be adj-usted; forward. or baclnvard,n or: upward :or: downward, thereby ren.- deringr'said seat and; back-structures especially desirable: forh use in; passenger vehicles. as., they canbegadjustedgto. different posi-tions-tolsuit the convenience' (1fthe4v passengers..

A further objectA is; to. provide. cushioning means forY the seat structure including-.a pluralityv of helicalV springs having downturned termi.- nals' which canV be quickly assembled: with associatedZ parts. of the seat f structure hav-ing `spaced perforations for reception of.. said downturned terminals.

Other objects will hereinafter appear. andin order that the inventionlmaybe -fully understood,

' back" structure broken away..-

Fig; 3 is'a longitudinal sectional v-iyvf of the seatstructure taken on linef3f--3- of- Fig. 2,- with r the addition of al1. the seat upholstery.

Fig. 4 is a top` plan view-of the-framework of the seat structure'.A

Fig. 5 is a front'elevation'oithe'seat frame and I a1 portion of` thearms';

Fig; 6 is a vertical sectional. view on line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

Fig; 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewon line` 1 of Fig: 4;

Fig. 8'is an enlarged crosssection on` line 8 8 of Fi'g. 4, with the addition' of'a part-of thev upholstery.

Fig. 9 is an inverted fragmentary view'fofone of a number of compositemembers employed" in the seat structure:

Referringin detail. to the different parts, 2 des.- ignates-a basefor thev seat structure which may rest upona supporting surface, not shown,` such for., exampleas thefloor of`a passenger vehicle, orlegswhenused as a household article of furnif tureor upon a swivel supportsimilar to that used for, desk chairs. The base structure 2, which preferably consists of sheet, metal, comprisestwo spaced'isidewalls 4 anda bottomi, whichxlatter unites the lower portions of the former, thereby making the base ofsubstantially U-formation:

A' seat' structure 8 visadjustably mounted jin the base. structure' 2 forforward, backward', upward, or downward-movement, and includes a lower frame lll, comprising a' pair offsidebars I2,- a pair of rods I3, adjacent to the bars I2',v ar pluralit'yof spaced rods l 4 arrangedl between and' p'aralleling the" rods l-3, and frontand'rear members' I5- and I8, respectively.

The side bars I A2are removably connected tothe ends-of' the front and rear-members I6l and" ISby anyY appropriate means, such, for example; as screws' 20, and the rods I3 and I4 are removably connected to said/front and rear members I Sand Why-annular terminals 22 and 23V integral with the front and rear ends ofthe rods IST and I4, respectively. By'removably connecting the dif'- ferent parts of the lower frame IIl,l as above stated', it can-bereadily assembled or takenapart for shipment, repairs orstorage. TheV twoiside rods I3 andthe front and rear members IS and I8 are of composite construction comprising metal'shea'ths124 enclosing wood or other suitable tacking strips' 25.. Thesheaths have longitudinal slots A2li, through which'tacks 2l may be driven to secure the. lower siderand'` frontimargins of upholsteryfhereinaiter. referredto, to saidtacking strips.

The' seat .'structure is internally cushioned by a group' of equally spaced helicalv springsf 28 spaced upon the intermediate rods Ill.l The springs. 28l taper downwardly and havev downturnedi lower terminals 3,0." which extendv freely through equally spaced` perforations 3.2 in4 the rods Illlandare thenfbent laterally, Fig. 3, to hold them inrplace. The upperrends ofthe'springsZS areheld inspaced relation to each other by transverse andf longitudinal "cables 3ft`v and .3 B which are secured to the upper coils of the springs 28.` by means 'off clips 38and Ilgrespectively. Thecables 34! and36"are also connectedfbythe clips: Mito a circumferentialY cable 42, which extends completely around the upper portionV of the` group of springs 28, as shown by Fig'. 2. TheA seat-structurel-is coveredwith'upholstery lliwhich has padding 45, Fig. 3, covering the upper ends of the springs 28 to provide a comfortable seat.

The side bars I2 are provided with arms 46 and an upwardly extending back frame 45. The forward ends of the arms 46 are curved downwardly and fixed to the front ends of the side bars I2, and the rear ends of the arms 46 are xed to opposite side bars 56 forming part of the back frame 48. The side bars 56 are united at their upper ends by a transverse bar 52, the ends of which latter are turned forwardly and removably secured in the upper tubular ends of the side bars 50 by screws 54, so that the back frame with the arms 46 may be taken apart for shipment or repairs.

The back frame 4B has a plurality of longitudinal cables 56 and zigzag cables 51, which latter are connected to the former by clips 58. The back frame is provided with upholstery 55. The rear ends of the seat cables 36 are united in pairs by transverse hinge members 59 and the lower ends of the back cables 56 are united in pairs by transverse hinge members 60, which latter are detachably connected to the former by spiral hinge members 59a, as shown by Fig. 2. The back frame upholstery 55 is detachably connected at its lower end by a zipper 60h to the rear portion of the seat frame upholstery 44, so that the seat 'and back frames may be readily detached for shipment or repairs. The transverse bar 52 of the seat back is of composite form similar to the composite rods I3, and the front and rear members I6 and I8, respectively, of the lower seat frame I6, so that the upper end of the back frame upholstery 55 may be tacked thereto.

The side bars I2 of the seat structure are of tubular formation to receive antifriction rollers 6I, Fig. 7, mounted upon stub shafts Gla, which ylatter extend through longitudinal slots 6Ib in the side bars I2, and are secured to the side walls 4 of base 2 by suitable means such as nuts 6Ic. The side bars 56 of the back frame 48 extend downward below the seat structure 6, Figs. 5 and 6, and are provided with racks 62, each of which has a series of front, rear and lower end rack teeth 62a. The teeth 62a of both racks 62 are adapted to intermesh with respective pinions 63, each of which is located midway between a pair of antifriction guide rollers 64 mounted upon stub shafts 65 secured in a bracket 66. The rollers 64 retain the racks in mesh with the pinions when moving upward or downward. The

brackets 66 are secured to the side walls 4 of the base 2 and reinforced by braces 66 extending downward at an angle to the bottom wall 6 of the base to which they are suitably secured as by bolts 'IIL The pinions 63 are mounted upon a rotatable shaft l2, journaled in bearings 'I4 xed to the brackets 66. The ends of the shaft I2 extend through apertures in the side walls 4 of the base 2 and' either one is adapted to receive a crank 16 whereby the shaft 'I2 may be manually rotated and in turn rotate the pinions 63 to adjust the racks 62 to the desired position. After the racks 62 have been adjusted the crank 'I6 is secured from accidental movement by a spring latch 18 secured at one end to the crank 'I6 and provided at its opposite end with a pin B6 4 series of perforations B2 are coincidental with the longitudinal axis of the shaft 12.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that when the seat and back structures are in the forward position disclosed by dotted lines, Fig. 1, and full lines Fig. 6, they may be adjusted backward by rotating the pinions 63 to cause the racks 62 to travel upward over the pinions 63and then backward and downward as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 6. It is also apparent that the seat and back structures may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly by moving the racks to the top of the pinions 63 or moving them downwardly to the position disclosed by Fig. 6.

The seat and back structures are made removable from the base structure 2 by providing apertures 8| in the undersides of the bars I2. By adjusting the rear portion of the seat and back structure upward until the racks 62 are at the top of the pinions 63 the seat and back structures may be moved forward until the apertures 8| register with the rollers 6|. The seat and back structures, together with the bars I2, may then be lifted to clear the rollers. The apertures 8| are placed a sumcient distance to the rear of the front ends of the bars I2 to prevent the apertures from registering with the rollers 6I when the seat and back structures are moved forward by the racks and pinions 62 and 63, respectively. Y

By removably connecting the different parts of the chair as hereinbefore described it is apparent that said parts can be readily assembled or taken apart for repairs, storage, or shipment in compact form.

While it is apparent that I have provided an adjustable chair possessing the advantages above pointed out, and have shown and described a preferred form of the seat and back structures I reserve all rights to such changes and modifications thereof as properly fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An adjustable chair structure comprising a base, a seat structure, means connecting the forward portion of said seat structure to said base for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis transverse to the chair and for forward and rearward sliding movement, a rack fixed to said seat structure at the rearward edge thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, said rack having teeth formed continuously along the forward and rearward edges thereof and around the lower end thereof, a pinion carried rotatably by said base and meshing with said racky and means for turning said pinion.

2. An adjustable chair structure comprising a base, a seat structure, means connecting the forward portion of said seat structure to said base for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis transverse to the chair and for forward and rearward sliding movement, a rack fixed to said seat structure at the rearward edge thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, said rack having teeth formed continuously along the forward and rearward edges thereof and around the lower end thereof, a pinion carried rotatably by said base and meshing with said rack, means for turning said pinion in either direction, and rollers carried by said base and adapted to maintain said rack in engagement with said pinion.

3. An adjustable chair structure comprising a base, a seat structure, means connecting the for- Ward portion of said seat structure to said base for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis transe verse to the chair and for forward and rearward sliding movement, a rack xed to said seat structure at the rearward edge thereof and. extending downwardly therefrom, said rack having teeth formed continuously along the forward and rearward edges thereof and around the lower end thereof, a pinion Carried rotatably by said base and meshing with said rack, and means for turning said pinion adjustably in either direction, and means for securing said pinion against accidental rotation.

4. An adjustable chair structure comprising a base, a seat structure including a pair of tubular side bars extending generally horizontally from front to rear of the chair, each of said side bars having a longitudinal slot formed therein adjacent the forward end thereof, a pair of axles xed to said base and extending respectively into said side bars through said slots, said axles being coaxial and disposed horizontally transverse to the chair a roller carried for rotation on each of said axles and supporting said side bars, a plurality of racks fixed to said seat structure at the rearward edge thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, said rack having teeth formed continuously along the forward and rearward edges thereof and around the lower end thereof, a plurality of pinions carried rotatably by said base and respectively meshing with said racks, and means for turning said pinions.

5. An adjustable chair structure comprising a base, a seat structure, means connecting the forward portion of said seat structure to said base for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis transverse to the chair and for forward and rearward sliding movement, a rack xed to said seat structure at the rearward edge thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, said rack having teeth formed continuously along the forward and rearward adges thereof and around the lower end thereof, a shaft carried for rotation by said base parallel to the pivotal axis of said seat structure, a pinion fixed on said shaft and meshing with said rack, a crank for turning said shaft, and a detent pin carried by said crank and adapted to engage selectively one of a plurality of holes formed therefor in said base, whereby said shaft is secured against accidental rotation.

JOHN M. DORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 526,041 Long Sept. 18, 1894 919,201 Montgomery Apr. 20, 1909 944,662 Budd Dec. 28, 1909 1,213,920 Szymkowiak Jan. 30, 1917 1,308,729 Belzian July 1, 1919 1,663,001 Chesley Mar. 20, 1923 1,665,351 Gibbs Apr. 10, 1928 1,929,024 Ingle Oct. v3, 1933 1,957,785 Knapp May 8, 1934 2,017,433 Carrington Oct. 15, 1935 2,042,238 Otto May 26, 1936 2,134,135 LeFevre Oct. 25, 1938 2,163,751 Flint June 27, 1939 2,268,765 Monroe Jan. 6, 1942 2,280,882 Austin Apr. 28, 1942 2,286,168 Flint June 9, 1942 2,367,829 Shinn Jan. 23, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 348,853 France Feb. 24, 1905 

